Constipation
Etiology, Evaluation and Management

The only book to deal specifically with constipation for specialists has been updated to include all the new advances since the first edition (1995). These advances include biofeedback, surgery for constipation, sacral nerve stimulation, the use of laparoscopy for rectal prolapse, treament and our understanding of some of the psychological problems of these patients. Innovations also include Professor Norman Williams' Malone Procedure and the newer pharmacologic treatments such as nitric oxide and botulinum toxin injections.

Definitions and epidemiology.- Etiology of congenital colorectal disease.- Etiology of acquired colorectal disease.- Extra colonic causes.- Initial evaluation.- Constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome.- Methods to measure small bowel and colonic transit.- Anorectal manometry and the rectoanal inhibitory reflex.- Defecography.- Compliance and manovolumetry.- Electromyography and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency.- Dynamic MRI and nuclear imaging.- Biofeedback.- Medical treatment.- Surgical treatment of colonic inertia.- Botulinum toxin and other new pharmacological approaches.- Sacral nerve stimulation.- Surgical treatment of rectocele: the colorectal surgeon's approach.- Surgical treatment of rectocele: gynecologic approaches.- Perineal procedures for rectal prolapse.- Rectal prolapse.- Laparoscopic surgery for rectal prolapse.- Antegrade continent colonic conduit.- Hischsprung's disease.- Chagasic megacolon.- Puborectalis hypertrophy.